Confucius Says…..
Readers must be aware that Confucius was a well known Chinese thinker and a social philosopher (551- 479 BC).Since my college days (1967 onwards) I had been enamored with his thoughts and quotes on various aspects of life. In fact whenever I came across a quote attributed to him. I would note it down in my diary. Today, with the gift of the internet, various quotes and sayings of his are available from many web sites attributed to him and his philosophy. However, since my interest was more in the funnier aspects of life, I slowly developed a taste for some of his really funny and pun-ny sayings and quotes.
Why this sudden reference to Confucius today, you will wonder. I will just enlighten you. I remember having quoted him in one of my talks with MBA students a few months ago. The talk was regarding marketing practices and that some sellers preferred cash while some accepted credit.
This was the quote:” You ask credit. I not give. You get mad. I give credit, you not pay. I get mad. Better you get mad.”- Confucius .The gist of the quote was that cash was preferable over credit.
The above quote came to my mind when I recently read the following news item in a local news-paper :
“Landlord asks for rent, gets thrown off first floor..”
New Delhi, July 26 —
A tenant threw his landlord off the first floor of his own house after the latter asked him to pay the outstanding rent. The incident took place in Om Vihar area in Uttam Nagar around 10:30 pmon Saturday. According to police, a heated argument between RaviGrover, the landlord, and Kishan Kumar, the tenant, turned violent and Kumar allegedly threw Grover off the first floor. The accused runs a tea stall in the area and stays on the first floor of the building while Grover lives on the ground floor.The police said Kumar had allegedly not paid the rent for the last four months and whenever Grover demanded money, he used to make excuses. “Grover had been asking Kumar to pay the outstanding rent but he always said that he would pay it the next month as he was in dire financial trouble.
For the first two months Grover did not say anything but then he started asking Kumar for rent everyday,” said a senior police officer. The police said on Saturday night, Grover went to Kumar’s room and asked him to pay up or leave.” The two got into a fist fight and Kumar then allegedly pushed him over the railing of the room’s balcony,” added the officer. When Kumar tried to flee he was caught by the neighbors who handed him over to police. Grover was rushed to a nearby hospital where his condition is said to be critical. The police have arrested Kumar and based on Grover’s statement filed a case against him.
I thought of trying my hand at writing a pithy quote ( like the one quoted above) on the afore mentioned news item / situation , like my friend, philosopher and guide- Mr. Confucius. After a lot of effort, this is what I came out with :
Grover : ” You ask rent. I get mad. Me not give. Me want time.”
Kumar: “Me want rent. Me not give time. If I get mad, Me throw you down the floor. You better pay. Or I really get mad.”
Finally, Kumar really got mad!!
Moral of the story: It is always good to remember quotes of Confucius in such times and act wise !
Now my request to the readers is to come out with better and funnier reactions! Keep smiling……
Ah…yes, more of this Confucius quotes and sayings in the next episode…Keep watching this space!
Broca Sir, This is what I came out with.
Kumar : Where rent? I talk talk, you middle middle no talk. where rent? I strict, I worry, you yes rent, I happy.
Grover: I no talk, No rent, Middle middle no talk.You strict, I the worry no.
Kumar : I you arrest the police. Where Rent? I no happy you. I very mad.
Ramesh Anand, Malaysia
Jul 29, 2010
The article throws up several issues. You undergo a lot of trouble, struggle, and difficulties to acquire some property; only to leave it to the others for unconditional enjoyment. After all, the modern Confucius would say, might is right. Toward the end, I got confused with the dialogue between Grover and Kumar, for there the identity of the landlord and the tenant seems to have got mixed up. An interesting read.
U Atreya Sarma, Secunderabad
Jul 29, 2010
Dear Rameshji and Atreya ji- Thanks for your responses.
Atreyaji, I think while quoting Confucius, I must have got confused and mixed up the names of the land lord and the tenant. You are right. Grover is the land lord and Kumar is the tenant here. It frequently happens in reality too (that we mix up persons). Please read the dialogue as under :
Kumar : “You ask rent. I get mad. Me not give. Me want time.”
Grover : “Me want rent. Me not give time. If I get mad, Me throw you down the floor. You better pay. Or I really get mad.”
Finally, Grover really got mad !!
j s broca, new delhi
Jul 29, 2010
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How can I even think I can write something to match up to your flare for writing. It was a lovely read and yes I am also very fond of reading Confucious so I shall wait for more from you.
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